In the midst of their lengthy wrangling over a bill to ban smoking in restaurants statewide, state senators stopped briefly to recognize one of their own – Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison.
Risser, who will celebrate his 79th birthday on Friday, is also marking the 50th anniversary of his election to the Legislature this year. He is tied with John J. Marchi of New York as the nation’s longest-serving state lawmaker.
….Risser, his family and fellow senators celebrated with a visit from Bucky Badger, UW-Madison cheerleaders and a huge cake in the shape of the Capitol.